Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.
1. A method of restoring archived virtual machines (VMs) in a networked data storage system, comprising: using one or more computing devices comprising one or more hardware processors coupled to memory: archiving a VM, wherein the VM is executed by a hypervisor on a client computing device onto one or more secondary storage devices such that the VM is no longer active; creating a VM placeholder configured to consume less computing resources than the VM, wherein the VM placeholder is executed by the hypervisor, the VM placeholder including information for restoring the VM from the one or more secondary storage devices; subsequent to archiving the VM, displaying a representation of the VM on the client computing device such that the VM continues to appear to be active after being archived; detecting user selection of the representation of the VM; and in response to detecting the user selection of the representation of the VM, using the information for restoring the VM from the one or more secondary storage devices, reactivating the VM by restoring at least a portion of the VM.
The technology domain involves virtual machine (VM) management in networked data storage systems, specifically addressing the challenge of efficiently archiving and restoring VMs while maintaining user transparency. When a VM is archived, it is moved from primary storage to secondary storage, rendering it inactive. However, to avoid disrupting user workflows, a lightweight VM placeholder is created. This placeholder consumes fewer computing resources than the original VM and retains metadata necessary for restoration. The placeholder allows the archived VM to continue appearing active in the user interface, ensuring seamless user experience. Upon user selection of the archived VM's representation, the system uses the placeholder's metadata to restore the VM from secondary storage. The restoration process reactivates the VM by retrieving at least a portion of its data, enabling the hypervisor to resume execution. This approach optimizes storage usage and resource allocation while maintaining the illusion of continuous VM availability. The method ensures efficient archiving and quick restoration without requiring users to manually locate or retrieve archived VMs.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising identifying, based on the information included in the VM placeholder, the one or more secondary storage devices in which the VM is archived.
A method for managing virtual machine (VM) storage in a computing environment involves tracking and retrieving archived VMs from secondary storage devices. The method addresses the challenge of efficiently locating and restoring VMs that have been moved from primary storage to secondary storage for archival purposes. The system creates a VM placeholder in the primary storage system, which contains metadata about the archived VM, including its location in secondary storage. When a request to access the archived VM is received, the system identifies the one or more secondary storage devices where the VM is stored by analyzing the information in the VM placeholder. This allows the system to quickly locate and retrieve the archived VM without requiring manual intervention or extensive search operations. The method ensures that archived VMs remain accessible while optimizing storage resources by offloading inactive VMs to secondary storage. The system may also include mechanisms for validating the integrity of the archived VM data and ensuring that the placeholder metadata remains up-to-date. This approach improves storage management efficiency and reduces the time required to restore archived VMs.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising restoring all data associated with the VM and removing the VM placeholder.
A method for managing virtual machines (VMs) in a computing environment addresses the problem of efficiently handling VM states during operations such as migration, backup, or recovery. The method involves creating a placeholder for a VM to represent its state when the VM is inactive or undergoing a transition, such as during migration or backup. This placeholder allows the system to maintain the VM's identity and configuration while the actual VM is not actively running or is in a transitional state. The method further includes restoring all data associated with the VM, which may involve retrieving stored data, reconfiguring the VM, or resuming its execution from a saved state. After restoration, the VM placeholder is removed, ensuring the system transitions back to a fully operational state where the VM is active and accessible. This approach improves system reliability and efficiency by minimizing downtime and ensuring seamless transitions between VM states. The method is particularly useful in cloud computing, virtualized environments, and disaster recovery scenarios where maintaining VM continuity is critical.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising restoring only a portion, but not all, of data associated with the VM and maintaining the VM placeholder.
A method for managing virtual machine (VM) data recovery involves selectively restoring only a portion of the data associated with a VM while preserving a placeholder for the VM. This approach is useful in scenarios where full data restoration is unnecessary or impractical, such as when only specific files or applications need to be recovered. The method ensures that the VM remains accessible in a placeholder state, allowing for partial recovery without disrupting the overall system. This selective restoration reduces storage and computational overhead compared to full VM recovery, while still providing access to critical data. The placeholder maintains the VM's identity and configuration, enabling seamless integration of the partially restored data. This technique is particularly valuable in cloud computing and virtualized environments where efficient resource management is essential. By restoring only the necessary data, the method minimizes downtime and optimizes performance, making it suitable for disaster recovery, data migration, and routine maintenance tasks. The solution addresses the challenge of balancing data recovery needs with system efficiency, offering a flexible and resource-conscious approach to VM management.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising identifying a media agent based on the information included in the VM placeholder, and sending instructions to restore the VM to the identified media agent.
This invention relates to virtual machine (VM) restoration in data backup systems. The problem addressed is efficiently restoring VMs from backup data by leveraging metadata stored in VM placeholders to streamline the recovery process. A VM placeholder is a lightweight representation of a VM that contains metadata about the VM's backup data, including its location and storage details. The method involves identifying a media agent—a system component responsible for managing backup storage—based on the information in the VM placeholder. Once identified, the media agent is instructed to restore the VM from the backup data. This approach ensures that the restoration process is directed to the correct storage location, reducing manual intervention and improving recovery efficiency. The method may also include steps to create the VM placeholder, which involves capturing metadata about the VM's backup data and storing it in a searchable format. This metadata may include details such as the backup storage location, the media agent responsible for the backup, and the VM's configuration. By using the placeholder, the system can quickly locate the necessary backup data and initiate the restoration process without requiring extensive user input. The invention aims to enhance the reliability and speed of VM recovery in backup environments.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising executing the restored VM and providing access to the VM via the client computing device.
A system and method for virtual machine (VM) restoration and access involves recovering a VM from a backup and enabling user interaction through a client device. The process includes retrieving a VM image from a storage system, where the image represents a snapshot of the VM's state at a prior point in time. The system then restores the VM by loading the image into a hypervisor or virtualization environment, ensuring the VM is operational with its original configuration, applications, and data intact. Once restored, the VM is executed, and access is provided to a client computing device, allowing users to interact with the VM as if it were running locally. This approach is particularly useful for disaster recovery, testing, or migrating VMs between environments. The method ensures minimal downtime and maintains data integrity during the restoration process, addressing challenges in traditional VM recovery techniques that often require manual intervention or result in data loss. The solution is applicable in cloud computing, enterprise IT, and data center management, where reliable and efficient VM recovery is critical.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the computing resources include one or more of: storage, central processing unit (CPU), memory, or network.
A system and method for dynamically allocating computing resources in a distributed computing environment addresses the challenge of efficiently managing and distributing resources such as storage, central processing units (CPUs), memory, and network bandwidth across multiple computing nodes. The invention provides a mechanism to monitor resource utilization in real-time and automatically reallocate resources based on demand, ensuring optimal performance and cost-efficiency. The system includes a resource management module that identifies available computing resources, such as storage capacity, CPU processing power, memory allocation, and network connectivity, and dynamically assigns them to tasks or applications as needed. This dynamic allocation prevents resource bottlenecks and underutilization, improving overall system efficiency. The method further includes mechanisms for load balancing, where resources are redistributed to handle peak workloads and reduce idle time. Additionally, the system may incorporate predictive analytics to anticipate future resource demands and preemptively allocate resources, further enhancing performance. By automating resource allocation, the invention reduces manual intervention, minimizes downtime, and optimizes resource usage across the computing infrastructure.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the VM placeholder is selectable via a user interface provided on the client computing device, the user selection comprising selecting the VM placeholder via the user interface provided on the client computing device.
This invention relates to virtual machine (VM) management in computing systems, specifically addressing the challenge of efficiently selecting and interacting with VM placeholders on client devices. The system provides a user interface on a client computing device that allows users to select a VM placeholder, which represents a virtual machine that may be hosted on a remote server or another computing device. The selection process involves the user interacting with the user interface to choose the desired VM placeholder. Once selected, the system enables further actions such as launching, configuring, or managing the associated virtual machine. The user interface may include visual representations of available VM placeholders, allowing users to easily identify and select the desired VM. This approach simplifies VM management by providing a direct and intuitive way for users to interact with virtual machines from their client devices, improving usability and efficiency in VM operations. The system ensures that the selection process is seamless and user-friendly, reducing the complexity typically associated with VM management tasks.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the VM placeholder and the VM are visually indistinguishable to a user of the client computing device.
A system and method for virtual machine (VM) management involves creating a VM placeholder that is visually indistinguishable from an actual VM to a user of a client computing device. The VM placeholder is a lightweight representation of a VM that appears identical to the user but does not consume the computational resources of a fully instantiated VM. This approach allows for efficient resource management by deferring the full instantiation of a VM until it is actively needed, reducing unnecessary resource consumption. The VM placeholder can be dynamically replaced with the actual VM when the user interacts with it, ensuring seamless user experience while optimizing system performance. The system monitors user interactions to determine when to replace the placeholder with the actual VM, ensuring that resources are allocated only when required. This method is particularly useful in environments where multiple VMs are managed, such as cloud computing or virtualized desktop infrastructures, where resource efficiency is critical. The visual indistinguishability ensures that users perceive no difference in functionality or appearance, while the underlying system benefits from reduced resource usage.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the archiving of the VM and the creating of the VM placeholder are performed as part of a first backup operation that includes creating a backup copy of other primary data associated with the client computing device onto a secondary storage subsystem.
This invention relates to virtual machine (VM) backup and archiving in a data storage system. The problem addressed is efficiently managing VM backups while maintaining system performance and minimizing storage overhead. The solution involves archiving a VM and creating a VM placeholder during a first backup operation, which also includes creating a backup copy of other primary data from a client computing device onto a secondary storage subsystem. The archiving process involves storing the VM in a compressed or deduplicated format to reduce storage requirements. The VM placeholder is a lightweight representation of the archived VM, allowing the system to quickly reference the VM without restoring it fully. This approach ensures that the VM can be restored later if needed, while freeing up primary storage resources. The method optimizes backup operations by integrating VM archiving with the backup of other primary data, reducing the number of separate operations and improving efficiency. The secondary storage subsystem may include cloud storage, tape storage, or other long-term storage solutions. The invention ensures that VMs are preserved without disrupting ongoing operations, providing a scalable and cost-effective backup solution.
11. A data storage system configured for restoring archived virtual machines (VMs), comprising: one or more computing devices comprising memory and one or more hardware processors coupled to the memory, the one or more computing devices configured to: archive a VM executing on a client computing device onto one or more secondary storage devices such that the VM is no longer active; create a VM placeholder configured to consume less computing resources than the VM, wherein the VM placeholder is executed by a hypervisor, the VM placeholder including information for restoring the VM from the one or more secondary storage devices; subsequent to archiving the VM, display a representation of the VM on the client computing device such that the VM continues to appear to be active after being archived; detect user selection of the representation of the VM; and in response to detecting the user selection of the representation of the VM, using the information for restoring the VM from one or more secondary storage devices, reactivate the VM by restoring at least a portion of the VM; and wherein the one or more computing devices are in networked communication with the client computing device.
A data storage system is designed to restore archived virtual machines (VMs) while minimizing resource consumption. The system addresses the challenge of managing inactive VMs by archiving them to secondary storage, freeing up primary computing resources, while maintaining the appearance of an active VM to users. The system includes computing devices with memory and processors that archive a VM running on a client device, making it inactive and storing it on secondary storage. A lightweight VM placeholder is created, consuming fewer resources than the original VM, and is executed by a hypervisor. This placeholder contains metadata and instructions for restoring the archived VM. The system displays the archived VM's representation on the client device, making it appear active. When a user selects the VM representation, the system uses the placeholder's information to restore the VM from secondary storage, reactivating at least a portion of it. The computing devices communicate with the client device over a network, enabling seamless restoration. This approach optimizes resource usage while preserving user experience by maintaining the illusion of continuous VM availability.
12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the one or more computing devices are further configured to identify, based on the information included in the VM placeholder, the one or more secondary storage devices in which the VM is archived.
This invention relates to virtual machine (VM) management systems, specifically addressing the challenge of efficiently locating and retrieving archived VMs from secondary storage devices. The system includes one or more computing devices configured to manage VM placeholders, which are lightweight representations of archived VMs stored in primary storage. These placeholders contain metadata and identifiers that link to the actual VM data stored in secondary storage, such as cloud storage or network-attached storage. The computing devices are further configured to analyze the information within these placeholders to determine the specific secondary storage devices where the archived VMs are located. This allows for quick retrieval of the VM data when needed, reducing the time and computational overhead associated with searching across multiple storage locations. The system ensures that VMs can be efficiently archived and later restored without requiring extensive manual intervention or complex search processes. The invention improves the scalability and performance of VM management in environments where large numbers of VMs are frequently archived and retrieved.
13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the one or more computing devices are further configured to cause all data associated with the VM to be restored and to cause the VM placeholder to be removed.
A system for managing virtual machines (VMs) in a computing environment addresses the challenge of efficiently restoring VMs from a suspended or saved state. The system includes one or more computing devices configured to create a VM placeholder, which represents a suspended or saved VM without consuming significant computational resources. The placeholder allows the VM to be quickly resumed or restored when needed, reducing downtime and resource overhead. The system further includes a storage system that stores the VM's state data, enabling the VM to be restored to its previous state. The computing devices are configured to monitor the VM's status and, upon receiving a restoration command, retrieve the stored state data and restore the VM to its operational state. Additionally, the system can remove the VM placeholder once the VM is fully restored, ensuring the computing environment remains clean and organized. This approach optimizes resource utilization by avoiding the continuous allocation of resources to suspended VMs while maintaining the ability to quickly resume operations when required. The system is particularly useful in cloud computing and virtualized environments where efficient resource management is critical.
14. The system of claim 11 , wherein the one or more computing devices are further configured to cause only a portion, but not all, of data associated with the VM to be restored and to cause the VM placeholder to be maintained.
A system for virtual machine (VM) management optimizes storage and recovery operations by selectively restoring only a portion of a VM's data while preserving a VM placeholder. The system operates in the domain of virtualized computing environments, addressing the challenge of efficiently managing VM storage and recovery without fully restoring all associated data, which can be time-consuming and resource-intensive. The system includes one or more computing devices configured to manage VM operations, including the creation and maintenance of VM placeholders. These placeholders serve as lightweight representations of VMs, allowing the system to track VM configurations and metadata without consuming the full storage or computational resources required for a fully restored VM. When a partial restoration is initiated, the system selectively restores only a subset of the VM's data, such as critical components or frequently accessed files, while leaving the remainder of the data in a non-restored state. This approach reduces recovery time and storage overhead while maintaining the ability to access essential VM functionality. The system ensures that the VM placeholder remains active, allowing for seamless transitions between partial and full restoration states as needed. This selective restoration mechanism enhances system performance and resource utilization in virtualized environments.
15. The system of claim 11 , wherein the one or more computing devices are further configured to identify a media agent based on the information included in the VM placeholder, and to send instructions to restore the VM to the identified media agent.
A system for virtual machine (VM) restoration in a data storage environment addresses the challenge of efficiently recovering VMs from backup data. The system includes one or more computing devices that manage the restoration process by interacting with a storage system and media agents. The computing devices are configured to access a VM placeholder, which contains metadata and configuration details about the VM, including its backup location and dependencies. The system identifies a specific media agent responsible for the VM's backup data based on the information in the VM placeholder. Once the appropriate media agent is identified, the computing devices send instructions to that media agent to initiate the VM restoration process. This ensures that the VM is restored from the correct backup source, minimizing downtime and ensuring data integrity. The system may also handle dependencies, such as storage resources or network configurations, to ensure a complete and functional VM restoration. The solution improves the reliability and efficiency of VM recovery in enterprise environments.
16. The system of claim 11 , wherein the one or more computing devices are further configured to cause the restored VM to be executed and provided via the client computing device.
A system for virtual machine (VM) restoration and execution involves one or more computing devices that manage the recovery of a VM from a backup or snapshot. The system includes a storage component that stores VM data, including snapshots or backups of the VM, and a processing component that retrieves the stored VM data to restore the VM to a functional state. The system further includes a network interface for communicating with a client computing device, allowing the restored VM to be executed and accessed remotely via the client. The restoration process may involve reconstructing the VM's state, including its operating system, applications, and data, from the stored backup or snapshot. The system ensures that the restored VM is operational and can be used by a user through the client computing device, enabling seamless access to the VM's resources and functionality. This approach is useful for disaster recovery, migration, or testing scenarios where a VM needs to be quickly restored and made available for use. The system may also include additional features such as validation checks to ensure the integrity of the restored VM before execution.
17. The system of claim 11 , wherein the computing resources include one or more of: storage, central processing unit (CPU), memory, or network.
A system for managing computing resources in a distributed environment addresses the challenge of efficiently allocating and utilizing shared resources across multiple users or applications. The system dynamically assigns computing resources, such as storage, central processing units (CPUs), memory, and network bandwidth, to optimize performance and reduce costs. By monitoring resource usage and demand, the system ensures that resources are allocated where they are most needed, preventing bottlenecks and improving overall system efficiency. The system may also include mechanisms for load balancing, resource scaling, and fault tolerance to maintain high availability and reliability. Additionally, it may support virtualization or containerization to isolate workloads and enhance security. The system is designed to adapt to varying workloads, ensuring that resources are used efficiently while minimizing idle capacity. This approach is particularly useful in cloud computing, data centers, and other environments where resource allocation must be flexible and responsive to changing demands.
18. The system of claim 11 , wherein the representation of the VM is selectable via a user interface provided on the client computing device, the user selection comprising selecting the VM via the user interface provided on the client computing device.
This invention relates to virtual machine (VM) management systems, specifically improving user interaction with VM representations in a cloud or distributed computing environment. The problem addressed is the lack of intuitive and efficient methods for users to select and interact with VMs from client devices, particularly in systems where multiple VMs may be running or available for management. The system includes a client computing device with a user interface that displays representations of one or more VMs. These representations are selectable by a user through the interface, allowing direct interaction with the VMs. The selection process involves the user choosing a specific VM representation via the interface, which then triggers further actions such as monitoring, configuration, or control of the selected VM. The system ensures that the user interface is accessible and responsive, providing clear visual feedback when a VM is selected. This enhances usability by reducing the complexity of managing multiple VMs and improving the efficiency of user operations in virtualized environments. The invention is particularly useful in cloud computing, where users often need to manage multiple VMs across distributed systems.
19. The method of claim 10 , further comprising determining, during a second backup operation subsequent to the first backup operation, deleting the reactivated VM without copying the VM onto the one or more secondary storage devices based on determining that a copy of the VM was created on the one or more secondary storage devices during the first backup operation.
This invention relates to virtual machine (VM) backup and recovery systems, specifically addressing inefficiencies in redundant backup operations. The problem solved is the unnecessary duplication of VM data during subsequent backup operations when a valid copy already exists on secondary storage. The method involves managing VM backups across primary and secondary storage devices. During a first backup operation, a VM is reactivated and copied onto one or more secondary storage devices. In a subsequent backup operation, the system determines whether a copy of the VM already exists on the secondary storage. If a valid copy is found, the reactivated VM is deleted without being copied again, preventing redundant storage usage and improving efficiency. This decision is based on metadata or tracking mechanisms that verify the existence of the prior backup. The invention optimizes storage resources by avoiding redundant VM copies, reducing backup time and storage overhead. It is particularly useful in environments where VMs are frequently backed up, such as cloud computing or enterprise data centers. The method ensures data integrity while minimizing unnecessary operations, enhancing overall system performance.
20. The method of claim 1 , wherein the VM placeholder is configured to perform at least one or more interactions with an operating system on the client computing device that used to be performed by the VM before the archiving.
This invention relates to virtual machine (VM) management in computing systems, specifically addressing the challenge of efficiently archiving VMs while maintaining necessary interactions with the host operating system. When a VM is archived, certain interactions with the host operating system that were previously handled by the VM must be preserved to ensure system functionality. The invention introduces a VM placeholder that retains these interactions after the original VM is archived. The placeholder is configured to perform one or more of the interactions that the VM previously handled, such as system calls, resource requests, or other OS-level operations. This ensures that the host operating system continues to function correctly without requiring the archived VM to remain active. The placeholder may also manage state information or configuration data that the archived VM would have otherwise handled, allowing the system to operate seamlessly. By using a lightweight placeholder instead of the full VM, the invention reduces resource consumption while maintaining system stability and compatibility. This approach is particularly useful in environments where VMs are frequently archived or migrated, such as cloud computing or virtualized enterprise systems.
Unknown
June 16, 2020
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